Grain-binder



(No Model.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 1. J. F. STBWARD.

GRAIN BINDER.

Pate'nted Feb.20,1883.

N. PETERS. Phnwumograpner. wuningmn, D. c.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

J. P. STEWARD.

GRAIN BINDER.

N. PETEii Photmnhngnphen washington. D, C.

NITED STATES PATENT erica.,

GRAIN-BINDER.-

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 272,598, dated February 20, 1888. Application med october 9,1582. (Nomad.)

To all whom lit may concern s Be it known that I, JOHN F. STEWARD, of thecity ofOhicago,counry otOook, and State of Illinois, have invent-ed certain new and useful Improvements in Grain-Binders, of which the followingr is a full specification, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings, in which- Figure l is a rear end view ot' the framework of the harvester, showing the binder in its proper relation thereto. Fig. 2 is an outer or stubble side view ot' the same. Fig. 3

shows the parts as viewed from a point aboveand in a line at right angles to the decking of the binder. Fig. 4shows the various positions assumed by the parts that constitute my invention. Figs. 5 and 6 are details. Fig. 7 shows a modification.

The object of my invention is to provide means that, combined with an automatic grainbinder, shall make it automatically regulate the position ofthe band on the gavel-that is, shall automatically place the band upon the gavel in its proper position relative to the length ofthe grain withoutany aid or attention from the operator; and its nature consists in locating, in such a position as to be influenced by the heads of the incoming grain, or gavel or bundle, a device to be moved thereby, the said device connected with means for adjusting the relative positions of the said grain andthe binding mechanism. Under the principle involved many methods may be resorted to to attain the result. I have selected and developed what appears to me to be the most feasibleplau. Several subordinateendsarereached by the diierentelements ofthe device, which will be pointed out.l

My invention is capable of being applied to any form of binder, but I hereshow it applied to one now much used. I will describe the binder only so far as is necessary to a correct understanding of my improvement.

In the drawings, A is the frame-work of the harvester, upon which thebinder is mounted; b, the platform-canvas; b and b2, the elevating-canvases.

O is the chute-board or decking, onto which the grain is deposited in a loose state by the elevators, and it is slotted to permit the packers and needle to work through it.

D is the grain-adjusting mechanism, consisting ofa frame carrying a roller at each end, around which rollers is drawn the endless can vas d. The larger or upper roller is driven from the gearing ofthe harvester in the usual manner, and moves in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 3. The adjuster-frame vibrates'on the axis of this upper and driving roller. So far the adjusting and butting mechanism does not differ from many in use, and constitutes no part of the present in vention, only as combined with other elements.

d3 is an arm secured to the top of the post A2, overreaching the decking parallel therewith, and to this arm above and to the deckV below is pivoted the swinging frame D.

d is a thin board or plate ot' metal, as wide as the atljusting-canvas, and pivoted to the frame of the latter at its lower extremity. From this board reaches upward and inward (see Fig. 3) an arm, d2. The board and arm are as one piece; but the board itseli'is made in two parts, so that its greater portion (which is the lower) can be removed.

Near the end of the arm d2 is pivoted the bar d4, connecting the arm d2 with the over; reaching arm d3 nearits top. In this arrangement we have four pivots, numbered 1,2, 3, and 4. Thedistance between 1 and 2 is equal, or nearly so, to that between Sand 4, and the distance between land ttcthat between 2and equal and parallel sides, so that to whatever point the frame D is swung in its adjustment the arm d2 will remain parallel with the tlXed arm d3, andthe board d! will always remain parallel with the edge of the decking', close to and over which/the whole vibrates.

d5 is a connecting-rod pivoted at d to the frame D, the adjustment of which it controls, and reaches upward and backward over the decking, passing near the top rail A3 of the harvester-frame. It is provided with the holes d7 at a point where it passes the top rail, in which latter holes are also provided, so that by means of a piu passing through one and entering the other the whole device can be secured in any position but it must be remembered that this means forl securing the parts in place is but for use in special cases, which will be hereinafter pointed out.

The board d is of such length as to reach as low as the accumulating gavel and prevent the grain forming it while accumulating from working or jariing forward. The betting or adjusting mechanism is given an amount of vaiiation in its adjustment from a line parallel with and over 'the front edge of the chtiteboard to a point so far backward as to carry short grain sufficiently far back to be bound centrally. Three positions are shown in Fig. 4.

e is a board or plate of metal, nearly equal in width to that of the adjusting-canvas d. lt is pivoted to the post A of the harvester by any suitable means. I show it hinged to a plate, e, bolted to the said post. It lies in a position to the deck or chute-board corresponding with that of the adjusting-canvas.

This board or plate is nearly straightirom the' pivotal point downward to nearly its lower extremity, where it curves forward toward the bundling devices and then backward. The form may be much varied, but I consider the curvature here given best. When the gavel is in the posit-ion to be bound it is stilljust above the curvein the plate, as seen in Fig. 3.

c is a spring secured at oneend tothe upper edge of the board e, at about theiniddle of its length, the other end of the said spring being attached to a bolt, g, adjustable in a slot inthe bar g of the frame-work ot' the binder. By this means the plate c isca-used to press elastically toward the grain, when not restrained by locking mechanism hereinafter explained, and the elastic pressure is adjustable as circumstances may require.

e2 is an aim secured to the board c at its upper edge and near 1ts top or hinged end,the said arm reaching upward over and parallel with the decking and connecting by a joint with therod di. 3y this means the movement of the board or plate e is transmitted to the adjuster I), so that it moves in a reverse direction. In other words, the two parts,oper ating one on the heads and the other on the butts of the grain, are so connected that they approach or recede from each other when one is moved. 'I hese parts, becauscoftheir weight, are inclined to swing apart, and also, because ot' the tendency of the motive power on the canvas d, to swing its frame outward, and hence the spring e must be strong enough to overcome these tendencies, and as much stronger as is wished to have the parts moved quickly by the saidspring when it is at liberty to move them.

With the above-described parts in the positions shown in Fig. 3, andthe bundle as there shown, it is plain that if the bundle is quickly ejected it must engage the curved part of e and force it out ot its way, and hence backward, and the batting-canvas being connected thereto it will be moved forward. Two forces then are apparent-the bundle to force the parts opposing its head and butt from each other, and the spring to retract them. In orixed for the time being in any position it may have caused them to assume, I provide alocking device that shall at all times retain the parts, eXceptjust while the head of each bundle is passing the curve on the plate e, which device is constructed as follows:

From the arm i of the binder-frame (cut away in Fig. 2 to show the latching device) I depend a support, f6. To this is pivoted the leverj', which lever is notched upon its lower edge. The position of this lever is such that its notched edge rests upon the upper edge of the plate or board c. From its pivotal point this lever reaches forward a short distance to the disk f3, and is-provided with an anti-friction roller, f5, which is engaged and moved by the cam fon the said disk, the latter being keyed to the knotter -drivingshaft, which makes one complete revolution to each operation ofthe binding mechanism. The lever is thus lifted from off the plate e once in each f revolution for an instant. The time of this lifting is made to correspond with the action ofthe discharge-arms j and 7.7, so that when they have engaged the bundle to eject it the plate e shall be free to respond to any pressure of the bundle while the latter is passing its curved end.

j"2 is a spring acting upon'the latch-lever j' to return it quickly to its place for engagement with the plate c after being acted upon by the cam f4.

m is the breast-plate between the tying mechanism (not shown) secured to it and the grain being bound. l is a slot for tliepassage ofthe needle. j is the knetter-rotating gear, to which is secured the discharge-army". To the disk f3 is secured the discharge-arm r.

Before describing the operation ot' the parts conjointly, I wish to state that certain parts of my invention are capable of use singly as well as conjointly, and I will lirst point out such independent action, believing that their joint action will be more quickly understood. First, if the pivot-bolt connecting e2 and d5 and the locking device be removed, and a pin is inserted into the holes in the top rail and through theholes di in the connection d5, I have an adjustable butting mechaiiism supplemented by the board d for preventing the gavel from working forward by thejarring of the machine, which shucking out ot'position is often verygreatin grain that is heavy at the butts; secondly, with the same parts removed, I have an elastically swinging board for directing scatterings caused by imperfect adjustment ot' the reel ofthe harvesterorany other causeinto thegavel, whether the grain be long or short, and especially when short., as without this board there is a clear space between the heads ot' the gavel and the rear limit ofthe chute, where scattering may pass freely to the ground.

With the parts all connected, as best shown in Figs. 2 and 3, I have, as before stated, a deder that each bundle shall leave the parts vice for regulating the position of the grain IOO IOS

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relative to the binding mechanism, the operation of which I will now describe.

The use of the canvas d and the board e produces a new and beneficial result in their joint action upon the grain'. In grain that stands thin on the ground. and hence is of that condition which always passes up the elevators head first, the butts are advanced by the revolving canvas and the heads are retarded by the contact with the board e, and thus reach the binding-receptacle in much better cotidition than when the old devices, or none, are used. The cut grain falls on the platform-canvas and is conveyed to and elevated bythe elevating-cativases and delivered in a loose state onto the table` when it is engaged by the usual pushing mechanism and forced forward to the binding mechanism, where it is bound, and from which it is finally ejected by the discharge-arms or other means. Witb the butting mechanism, and the board or plate e in their positions nearest approaching each other, we will suppose the grain first acted upon to reach them. It' the grain is long, the head of lthebundle,whendischarged,willpress forcibly7 against e, more especially against its curve, and force it backward, it beingat the proper instant permitted to move by bei'tntg unlocked by the action of the cam f4. The tirst bundle thus bound may be carried too far backward in its approach to the binding mechanism. and

hence bound too near the butt; but when it is discharged the butt-adjusting device acts under the intluence ct' the plate e, and is hence moved forward to a position more nearly in keeping with the requirements, and the neXt bundle will be bound farther from the butt. If when going into a fleld of short grain the butt-adjusting inechzinism and plate c are wide apart, the first bundle will be deposited too far forward in the receptacle, and hence bound too nearthe heads; but upon its discharge the board e will be permitted to jump or swing with a quick movement to a position as far forward as the position ot' the bundle at that instant will permit, and hence the butting mechanism will be set for short grain. If the device is set to proper position for the first bundle before going into the grain, it will be properly bound, and it will leave the parts in position for the succeeding one.

For the sake ofclearness, l will further say the butt-adjusting mechanism in all cases directs the grain to the binding devices, (except litterings that are thrown backward.) Ihe position to which the butt-atljuster is swung determines the relative position ofthe gavel to the binding mechanism. The passage of a bundle so long or far backward that its head will forcibly movethe swinging plate when thelatter is unlocked will cause the butt-adjusting mechanism to tnove forward and deposit the succeeding grain in a position farther torward in relation to the binding` devices. It' grain ot'decreasing length passes, the spring e willcause the plate e to jump, when unlocked, until litA meets the heads of the same, and the butt-adjusting mechanism thus be moved to deposit the grain of each succeeding shorter gave-l a little farther back in relation to the binding mechanism- It may seem to those theoretically versed in the art, vet unfamiliar with the operation of harvesting machinery in actual work, that the adjustments will not be perfect; but when the fact is taken into account that the change of length ot' grain which the machine advances to meet is generally gradual, and that the gavels increase and decrease in length gradually, the movement imparted to the regulating device will be competent to do its work, which it docs in practice to a remarkable degree.

rI-he modifications that may be made in this arrangement are almost unlimited. For in stance, the butting device may be of any kind competent to give the swath direction into the receptacle, or it may be ofthe kind that moves the gavel bodily endwise. Ilte board orplate c may be connected with the butting m. chanism in various ways, and the, plate eitselfmay be varied, yet should anydevice be used capable otbeing` intluenced by the heads of the grain, whether in swath, gavel, or bundle, for the purposes set forth, l should consider' it an equivalent. The spring` c may be connected with the butting mechanism direct as to any of the moving parts. The locking arrange ment may be varied,and even dispensed with under some circumstances. These suggested modifications are shown-in an additional iigure-that numbered 7. In this the grain is shown as operated at each end by the two plates or boards, and itis plain that as the distance between these boards at their delivery end is regulated bythe length of the grain, the butt-board will be caused to deliver the incoming grain properly. This would be used in that class of binders where the grain accumulates in the receptacle in a free state, and is taken bodilytheret'rom by the needle. The plate e may be loca-ted upon the elevator and connected with the adjusting or butting mechanism and produce the same effect.

In the moditication shown in Fig. 7, Cis the deck, and D the butt-adjuster. e is the swingboard, located so as to be intluenced by the heads of the grain. c2 and d5 are stiff arms, reaching from their respective boards and meeting in a joint, being so connected if one moves tne other must do so, but in a reverse direction. Now, it' the spring e', orany spring, is attached Aas shown in Fig. 3, the boards will be drawn together with a slight stress,

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and any body of grain passing through will spread them apart at their lower extremities. 1t is plain that whatever the length of grain passes, its center wlll always be at the same place What I claim is- 1. In agrain-bindcr, the combination of the butt-adjuster with means, substantially such as described, for setting the butt-ad j uster forv operation on the owing grain, said means being adapted to be operated by the grain, as and for 4the purpose described.

2. The combination of the adjusting` mechanism'of1 a grain-binder with means, substantially such as described, for automatically setting the adjuster for directing the grain into the binding mechanism, as set forth.

3. rl`he combination of the swinging revolvingcanvas for advancing the butts of the grain with the board e t'or retarding the heads ofthe same.

4. The combination, with the delivery appa-A ratus ot' a harvester, of a self-setting plate, e, on the binder-table, adapted to be operated by the grain for dii ectingI scattering grain into the succeeding gavel, substantially as described.

5. The combination, with the harvester delivery apparatus, oi the seltsetting plate e and the spring c', adjustable in its tension, substatitially as described.

6. The combination of the board c, spring c', bolt g, and slotted bar g', substantially as described. y

7. In a grain-binder, mechanism for adjusting the butts ot' the giain, said mechanism adapted to be adjusted bythe action ot' the grain.

' 8. The combination, with the harvester delivering apparatus and the elastically-yielding butt-adjusting mechanism, of means, substantially such as described, for varying the stress ot' elasticity, as set forth.

9. In combination with the bundle'discharging mechanism of a grain-binder, the board e, for the purposes set forth.

l0. 'lhe combination ot' the discharge-arms, the board e, and the butt-adjusting` mechanism, substantially as described.

ll. The combination of the self-setting board c, and locking mechanism, substantially as set forth.

l2. The plate or board c and connecting mechanism as means for transmitting` the power exerted by the spring e and swath or bundle ot grain to the butt-adjusting mechanism, substantially as described.

13. The combination of the spring-latch with the board e, substantially as described.

14. The combination, with the board e, of the butt-adjusting mechanism and the boardlot'king mechanism, substantially as described.

15. The combination ot' the board eand buttadjusting mechanism with intermittently-operating mechanism for locking the board e, substantially as described.

lt. The elasticallyyielding butt-adjusting mechanism, in combination Wit-l1 locking mechanism, substantially as described.

17. The combination, with the self-setting butt-adjusting mechanism, ot' the latch f and cam f1, substantially as described.

l5. The combination ot' the board c, arm e2, connecting-rod, d5, butt-adjusting mechanism, and hoard d', substantially as described.

19. Thecoinbinationot' the boardcand board d', substantially as described.

20. The combination, in a grain-binder, ot' moving butt-adjusting mechanism vand the board d', substantially as described.

21. The combination ot' the swinging buttadjn'ster, the. arms d2, d3, and d4, and the board d', pivoted to the swinging butt adjuster, substantially as described. y

JOHN F. STEVARD.

Vitnesses:

LAURENCE BEALING, JOHN H. P. KAsPAaL 

